o have that effect; especially as Harry had
probably been lying awake, for the last night or two, listening for
the friends who might arrive at any time.

When they reached the confines of the forest the torches, which had
been carried by the boys, were all lit; and each carried two--with
the exception of the bearers, who had but one each--while all kept
close together round the litter. They waved their torches as they
went and, although they heard the cries of several tigers in the
forest, they had no fear of being attacked; as so many waving
lights would deter the most hungry beast from venturing near.

Once in the chamber at the temple, the litter was laid down on a
pile of reeds and leaves that had been gathered the day before,
together with a great store of brushwood and logs. Harry still
sleeping quietly. In a short time a bright fire was blazing and,
with this and the light of the torches, the chamber assumed quite a
cheerful appearance. On the way, Stanley had spoken to the two
guards, thanked them for their service, and assured them that they
would receive the reward promised by Meinik.

"I am the British officer," he said, "who was at the village with
my friend, though I was absent when he was carried off. As you see,
I am disguised."

Both had shown signs of uneasiness, when they approached the
temple; but Meinik had assured them that the spirits would not
venture to approach a party having a white man with them, and that
a night had already been passed in the temple, without any harm
coming of it. A meal, consisting of slices of venison, was at once
prepared and, when this was eaten, and the whole party had lighted
cigars, their spirits rose at the success of the enterprise. The
soldiers, however, had been disappointed at hearing that there was
going to be a stay for some little time there, to enable the
wounded man to gain strength.

"We may not stop long," Stanley said; "but, you see, with the
litter we could not travel fast; and you may be sure by this time
the alarm has been given for, when they came to relieve you at the
end of three hours, it would be found that you were missing; and
then they would, at once, discover that the captives had gone, too.
By daybreak the whole garrison will be out. How many are there of
them?"

"There are three thousand men, in the town," the guard said. "After
a party of your soldiers came within a short distance of it, two
months ago, fifteen hundred men were add